Economic Development & Community Development MonthBy Tina Fischlin on Wednesday, October 7, 2020As Rotarians, we are encouraged by the acts of kindness in our community and around the world. While the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed some efforts, it has also affirmed how much we accomplish as People of Action and brought some unexpected opportunities. The resilience and service by Rotary clubs in our District are inspiring. For example, on my recent governor’s visit to the Rotary Club of Loganville, I had an “opportunity” to participate in the ribbon-cutting event at Loganville High School’s College and Career Resource Center. The center will provide assistance and resources as students prepare for life after high school. (See photo.) “May Peace Prevail On Earth” was demonstrated by District 6910 clubs’ participation in the International Peace Day. We had great participation among clubs who registered events. Your donations to the Rotary Foundation empower our dedication to peace by supporting the Rotary International’s Peace Fellowship. We are a Peace District because of your support of The Rotary Foundation. Read more about Peace Fellowship: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowshipsHow will your club celebrate World Polio Day on October 24? We reached a milestone: eradicating polio out of Africa! But the work is not done. We must continue our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Remember to register your event at https://www.endpolio.org/register-your-event. October is Economic and Community Development. The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable and long-term economic improvements in their communities. Click on the link here to gain inspiration from other Rotarians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vzd0nypweY&t=3sAs President Nick Frankle says, “ The mission of the Rotary Action Group for Community Economic Development is defined as being a source of knowledge and expertise that helps Rotarians plan, implement, and manage impactful and sustainable economic development projects and create lasting change in poor and underserved communities.” To learn more, please visit http://ragm.org/. Meet Wendy Bird, Founder of Pearls with Purpose. She is dedicated and passionate about providing women in impoverished regions an opportunity to be self-sustaining. https://pearlswithpurpose.org/Let’s continue to be the positive newsmakers in our communities and around the world! |
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Georgia Rotary Embraces International Day of PeaceTuesday, October 6, 2020The three District Governors from across the State of Georgia joined forces in an impressive way to get behind this year's International Day of Peace, planned for September 21. In a climate of division, politics, pandemics and more, all creating stress and leading toward potential disharmony, District Governors Kirk Driscoll (#6900), Tina Fischlin (#6910) and Steve Barnes (#6920) banded together to create a remarkable joint online video project that was shared on Facebook Live on the morning of Peace Day. This presentation acted as the foundation upon which numerous individual club events were organized and took place across all three districts. The twenty-nine minute Facebook Live video was an intricately woven thread of insights not only from the three District Governor's, but also from a quartet of very impressive guests that willingly took part in the opportunity to talk about peace. These guests included Rotary International Director, Peter Kyle; Rotary Peace Fellow and Institute for Economics & Peace Global Ambassador, Patricia Shaffer; Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.), Kenn Todarov; and the notable and influential Ambassador Andrew Young. The overall message and impact of this presentation is one you just have to see for yourself, and you can do that simply by clicking the image above. You'll be glad you did! The creative and video production was done by Christian Janson who is the Founder of Most High Media, a non-profit creative agency and studio in Roswell, GA, who's mission is to spread awareness, educate, and crush the stigma of addiction and mental health disorders. Christian did an amazing job working very closely with DG's Kirk, Tina and Steve to put this masterful production together. Two key goals of this endeavor were to create positive inertia resulting from Peace Day. First and foremost, this video production will be made available to Rotary Clubs to use as a future program at club meetings, emphasizing one of Rotary's seven key areas of focus (Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution). In addition, the end of the video promotes a very specific action item that each and every Rotarian can take to make a difference by participating in the Rotary Peace Academy, a free program that can be found at RotaryPositivePeace.org. To top it all off, Rotary Clubs across Georgia were celebrating the day with a wide array of special events to help bring peace into each community in a unique and positive way. Outlined below are a series of links that will lead you to a variety of stories and photographs from some of the awesome programs that took place in District #6910 on the International Day of Peace.  | | Rotary Club of Jasper releases a symbolic dove during a Peace & Unity Day event on September 21. |
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Peace & Unity Day Events in District #6910Click on any of the Rotary Club names listed below for details, photos and, in some cases, videos from their Peace Day event. |
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#1 In The WorldThursday, September 17, 2020 | | Tommy and Chantel Bagwell Honored as they become Platinum Trustee Circle Members of the Arch Klumph Society. |
With a little help from Forsyth County Rotarian Tommy Bagwell and his wife Chantal, District 6910 was the highest giving district to PolioPlus in the world during the 2019-20 Rotary year! Likewise, their home club of Forsyth County was the highest giving club in the world! Can you guess the common denominator here? Tommy and Chantal are Arch Klumph Society Platinum Trustees Circle members who are very passionate about raising funds for PolioPlus. According to Robert Hall, Vice-Chair of the End Polio Now Countdown to History Committee, in 2017 Tommy expressed his belief that in Georgia we ought to be doing a lot better when it comes to supporting Rotary’s PolioPlus fund. After much discussion, he and Chantal decided to make the commitment to put up $3 million dollars in matching funds over the course of three years. It then became Robert’s job to find the contributors to put those matching funds to work. The Bagwells surpassed their commitment giving over $3 million. These funds will go a long way in Rotary’s campaign to eradicate polio from the face of the earth and keep our promise to the children of the world. Read More |
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Polio, Where Are We and How Are We Trying to End Polio?By Bill Strickland on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Polio cases are still going up in only two countries. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries left with wild poliovirus. So far this year, we have had 120 cases of wild poliovirus. Afghanistan has had 47 cases and Pakistan has had 73 cases this year.
When COVID-19 hit, Polio inoculations were stopped and everyone stayed at home. But, just recently in Pakistan, the inoculations have started again. Health workers have started going door to door with armed soldiers. There have been some that have spread false rumors about the inoculations. Some were told that the inoculations were to sterilize children of the countries. The End Polio chairs from both countries are working on correcting these false statements. There are two types of polio vaccines. One was invented by Jonas Salk. His vaccine is a dead virus that is given in a shot. Albert Sabin invented a vaccine that is a very weak virus that is alive. The Sabin vaccine is given with just two drops. Sabin’s vaccine is the most cost-effective vaccine in the world. Most people can have this vaccine and never get polio. In mostly poorly vaccinated populations, there will pop up a mutated type of vaccine-derived polio that can give someone polio. Only 1 in 500,000 might get the mutation from the live virus. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are working on a new polio serum that will not give any children polio. We are so close to ending polio, we just need your help. When we get to the last case of polio, Rotary will stand with the leaders of the world to celebrate the End of Polio. Polio will be the only second disease eradicated in the World. Small Pox is the only disease eradicated so far.
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Photos From Around the DistrictThursday, October 1, 2020 | The Rotary Club of Sugarloaf hosted its first virtual Duck Derby at Slow Pour Brewing in Lawrenceville. The fundraiser was a huge success, raising nearly $25,000.
For more memories made and great District 6910 photos, click the link below. |
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It's a $1.90 kind of day....By Kimberly S Reynolds on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 It’s a $1.90 kind of day…Imagine that today you have $1.90 in your wallet. No debit card or credit card. Just the $1.90 to get yourself to work, take care of your children and possibly your aging parents, feed your family and buy anything else you need today. An impossible challenge, right? For 800 million people, that is what it is like today and every day.One of the six focus areas that Rotary is committed to is Growing Local Economies. Rotarians work together to strengthen local communities by providing assistance with local economic development. Helping communities who are impoverished to create sustainable livelihoods, increasing access to renewable energy, supporting entrepreneurs and farmers – these are only a few of the many ways Rotarians are people of action in this very important focus area. Are you considering a service project and interested in how you can make a difference? Rotary clubs and the Rotary Foundation are transforming lives. You can be a part of this transformation! Read More |
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Leadership SpotlightBy Paige W Havens on Thursday, October 1, 2020 | | Jennifer Hendrickson shown here while on stage with District Governor David "Coop" Cooper at District Conference in 2018. |
Our monthly "Leadership Spotlight" series continues in October to help Rotarians throughout the district become familiar with fellow Rotarians working hard at the district level to help lead our organization into the future. This month we'd like to shine the spotlight on the newest member of the District's Board of Directors, Jennifer Hendrickson. Read More |
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A Special Rotarian ... George GainesBy Sallie Boyles on Friday, September 25, 2020 | | DG Tina Fischlin had the privilege of visiting Elberton Rotarian George Gaines, who just celebrated his 101st birthday. We hope to share a video of their meeting in the near future. Thank you to George’s daughter Elsa Ann, his brother-in-law Joe Meyer, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Dahlonega Sunrise, and Elberton Club President, Chris Kubas for the introduction. |
Like many who are looking ahead to next year, the Rotary Club of Elberton is preparing for a milestone occasion. Chartered in 1921, the club will soon celebrate its centennial birthday. Not to be outdone, Elberton Rotarian George Gaines had 101 candles on his birthday cake in August. While too young to have been a charter member of his club, George has a long history with Rotary. In 1946, George’s Rotarian father-in-law invited him to speak for his club about George’s three years of overseas combat—in North Africa, Italy, and Austria—during WWII. “It was a club for old men,” George chuckles, revealing his first impressions of Rotary. “The youngest there looked like he was about 55 or 60.” Read More |
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Our Individually Beautiful Humanity: Diversity, Equity, and InclusionBy Kimberly S Reynolds on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 The beauty of being human is that we are all different in our humanity. It is that uniqueness that makes us who we are as individuals and that which works to build strong communities, secure in a foundation of varied skills, viewpoints, ideas and backgrounds which we can all learn from and grow through. Rotary, as an international organization, values diversity across the world and within each club. With differing points of view and experiences, there is a collective yet broad understanding of the needs of the community and how Rotarians can work together to address those needs. How can we each be a part of ensuring our clubs are reflective of the communities we serve and that we foster a culture of equity and inclusion? Read More |
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ShelterBox HeroesThursday, October 1, 2020Based on their participation during the 2019-2020 Rotary Year, six District 6910 Rotary Clubs recently received special recognition and were designated as ShelterBox Heroes. Each of the following six club earned the Bronze Hero Award:
 - Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary Club
- Gainesville Rotary Club
- Rotary Club of Gwinnett County
- Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge
- Oconee County Rotary Club
- Rotary Club of Toccoa
A ShelterBox HERO is a Rotary Club that has committed to making an impact in worldwide disaster response by giving $1,000 (Bronze), $3,000 (Silver), or $5,000 (Gold) within the Rotary year. When a Club becomes a HERO Club, they receive a certificate and a HERO digital badge for their website. They will also be listed on the ShelterBox webpage.  HERO Clubs enable ShelterBox to have the resources and time to be ready when disaster strikes by allowing ShelterBox to purchase and pre-position aid in or near countries where we respond, often resulting in a more efficient and timely response.
ShelterBox provides Shelter Kits which include a selection of durable tools and materials that are customized to suit the needs of each community. The tools and materials they send provide the essentials that families need to start rebuilding homes right away, ranging from tough tarpaulin and timber, to corrugated sheeting and even room dividers. The versatile tools they provide help with everything from clearing rubble to building shelters and even tending crops. These tools can also be used to build furniture, cut firewood and make repairs.
 Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth, and dignity following more than 300 disasters in over 100 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential shelter aid and other life-saving supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox USA is a 2-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and is based in Santa Barbara, California.
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Surf's Up!By Paige W Havens on Friday, September 25, 2020That’s right - everyone’s going surfin’ at this year's District Conference. Lots of exciting plans are being made to ensure we all enjoy "Fun In The Sun," April 22-25, 2021 at Jekyll Island. Take a moment to sit back, relax, and soak up some of the good vibes headed our way and then Register Today!  | | Click on the image above to watch a great Surf's Up "Fun In the Sun" District Conference Video! |
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Discover The TreasureMonday, September 28, 2020 |
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District Conference Official Web PageHere is your "Fun In The Sun" official QR Code: |
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Pic Of The MonthClick here to see this month's Pic of the Month! Read More |
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District Facebook PageScanning the image below with the QR Code Reader on your smartphone takes you to the District 6910 Facebook Page! |
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GRSP Newsletter Link | | Click the image above to see the new Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) Newsletter. |
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Club Anniversaries
RomeOctober 1st South Hall CountyOctober 17th Lake Chatuge/Hiawassee October 25th Johns Creek October 25th Morgan County October 27th
District Events
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